Barcelona, Spain – Spanish authorities said Wednesday that at least 51 people were killed after flash floods swept away cars, turned village streets into rivers and disrupted railway lines and highways in the worst natural disaster to hit the European country in recent history.
Emergency services in the eastern region of Valencia confirmed the death toll.
Spain’s King Felipe VI said he is “devastated” by the floods, Agence France-Presse reported.
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Rain showers caused flooding in much of southern and eastern Spain on Tuesday. Floods of mud-colored water sent vehicles tumbling through the streets at terrifying speeds. Pieces of wood swirled with household items. Police and rescue services used helicopters to lift people from their homes and cars.
Authorities reported several people missing late Tuesday, but the next morning came the shocking announcement of dozens of deaths.
Parts of the Valencia region have no electricity and telephone lines are down, with some areas cut off by flooded roads, regional chief Carlos Mazon told reporters, according to AFP.
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More than 1,000 soldiers from the Spanish emergency response units were deployed in the devastated areas.
“Yesterday was the worst day of my life,” Ricardo Gabaldón, the mayor of Utiel, a town in Valencia, told national broadcaster RTVE. He said several people are still missing in his city.
“We were trapped like rats. Cars and garbage containers flooded the streets. The water rose up to three meters,” he said.
Spain has experienced similar autumn storms in recent years, but nothing compared to the devastation of the past two days.
A high-speed train with almost 300 people on board derailed near Malaga, although rail authorities said no one was injured. The high-speed train between the city of Valencia and Madrid was disrupted, as were several commuter lines.
Valencian regional president Carlos Mazón urged people to stay at home so as not to complicate rescue efforts, as road travel is already difficult due to fallen trees and destroyed vehicles.
Spain’s central government has set up a crisis committee to help coordinate rescue efforts.
Rain had subsided in Valencia by late Wednesday morning, but more storms were forecast until Thursday, according to Spain’s national weather service.
Spain is still recovering from a severe drought earlier this year. Scientists say increased episodes of extreme weather are likely to do with this climate change.
